Osmosis video - Respiratory: Oxygen therapy

Oxygen therapy is the use of oxygen as a medical treatment. It is used for clients with conditions that put them at risk for hypoxia and can be administered from different sources at the hospital, including a wall outlet, an oxygen tank, a liquid oxygen system, and an oxygen concentrator. All oxygen sources are attached to a flow meter that indicates the flow rate, usually in liters of oxygen administered per minute, which typically ranges between 1 and 15 liters per minute. A humidifier bottle is also used to prevent the oxygen from drying out the mucous membranes lining the nose and mouth. Oxygen therapy can be administered in a variety of ways including: Face mask: mask that covers the nose and mouth, delivering a high concentration of oxygen to the patient. Nasal cannula: small tube that sits under the nose and delivers a lower concentration of oxygen to the patient. Nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airways: flexible tubes that go through the nose and up to the throat, or into the mouth and back to the throat respectively. They are used in sedated and unconscious patients to keep the airway open.